AUTONOMÍA PROCESAL EN LA JURISPRUDENCIA DEL TC.­

THE WRECKSITE

Over the centuries the isolated group of islands far north of the Bahamas that comprise Bermuda have ensnared hundreds of ships attempting to navigate the Atlantic. During the centuries of New World exploration, while attempting to ride the favourable easterly currents, Bermuda claimed the lives and cargoes of dozens of returning ships as they tried to avoid the low lying reefs surrounding the islands. Since the colonisation of Bermuda in 1609, the colonial accounts have provided many details of the fates of wrecked ships and the misfortune of survivors.

One unidentified ship wrecked before the islands were settled by the shipwreck survivors of the Sea Venture in 1609, provided one modern day resident the fulfilment of a lifelong dream. In addition to a small fortune in valuable artifacts the earliest examples of olive jar-type botijas encountered in this study are now in the private collection of Mr. Harry Cox of Bermuda.

CATALOGUE OF SHIPWRECKS AND THEIR CERAMIC COLLECTIONS

The finds were in a sand pocket of artifacts discovered off the outer reefs. Unfortu­ nately, no coherent hull structure was ever discovered. The wreck was not positively identified although there is strong artifactual evidence that it belongs to the late 16th century, and is either of Spanish or Portuguese nationality. Primary sources for dating the site to the 1570’s were nine Portuguese gold cruzados dated in the period 1521 -1580 (Cox, 1968: 33). Other finds included an astrolabe, gold bars, an elephant tusk, gold jewellery, and gold chain.

In addition to the finds reported by Mr. Cox, a near intact porcelain brimmed bowl recovered from the same wreck site was identified as Wan-Li by Colin Martin (pers. comm., 1986) which supports a late 16th century date. The rim border and serpentine or “dragonesque” designs resemble a piece recovered from the Trinidad Valencera from the Spanish Armada (1588) (Martin, 1979, Fig 13.#99:297 and Fig. 14.#98: 298). Wan- Li has a date range from 1573 -1614, and in conjunction with the terminus post quem of the coins it is reasonable to assume the wreck occurred in the late 16th century.

REFERENCES

The story of Mr. Cox’s finds of July 26, 1968 was reported in the Bermudian ( Vol. XXXIX No. 9, November 1968) where he gives an emotional account of his exciting discovery.

THE COLLECTIONS

Mr. Cox is open to researchers wishing to study his finds if they can survive repeated attacks by a pair of pet geese that roam the property and attack strangers. In addition to

the ceramics recorded for this report, Mr. Cox has a collection of over a dozen bronze breech loaders from another 16th century wreck.

THE SAN PEDRO (1596) THE WRECK

Profiting from shipwrecks is a deep-seated Bermudian tradition. Following that tradition is the famous diver and salvor Mr. Edward “Teddy” Tucker. A colourful storyteller, Mr. Tucker and his partner Don Canton have been working the reefs off Bermuda in search of wrecks for almost forty years. Accompanied by members of the S mithsonian Institution ’snow defunct Underwater Archaeology Department then headed by Mr. Mendel Peterson, Mr. Tucker and crew salvaged several significant historical wrecks from the 1950’s to the 1970’s. Mr. Tucker is still active in salvage and underwater exploration today and is very receptive and helpful to students of maritime history.

One of the most famous of Mr. Tucker’s finds is reported to be the remains of the San Pedro which was wrecked off the reefs of Bermuda in 1596. Tucker and Canton first explored a sand hole in the outer reefs in 1950 when they salvaged “six big guns and a big copper bucket” which were subsequently sold to the Bermuda Historical Monuments Trust (Zuill, 1956: 57). The two men did not return to the spot again until August 1955 when they worked for a number of days recovering a substantial amount of artifacts including a great deal of treasure. The most famous item recovered was a beautiful emerald pectoral cross containing seven emeralds.

CATALOGUE OF SHIPWRECKS AND THEIR CERAMIC COLLECTIONS

Although the exact identity of the wreck is uncertain, there are several indications which support a Spanish provenience and a date range in the late 16th century. In addition to the ceramics included in this report, the following items were recovered from the wreck:

1 gold cross with seven emeralds.

1 gold bar weighing one kilogram, with Spanish stamps on it.

2 gold ingots with Spanish stamps, weighing 23 ounces and 19 ounces. 2 gold slugs cut from a bar, and stamped.

3 gold buttons set with pearls.

About 1,000 pieces of eight, including some minted in a (then) newly opened mint in Mexico City.

About a dozen French coins, one dated 811 from the reign of Charlemagne, another dated 1587, and others with other dates.

1 Caiib spear with carvings, made of black palm wood. Carib bows, also made of black palm wood.

Indian pottery

Over a dozen matchlock muskets. Rapier handles.

Metal sword handles.

A chunk of paint weighing eight pounds. 6 big guns (discovered in 1950).

4 swivel guns.

Cannon balls, musket shots. Bronze hand grenades.

1 pair of navigational dividers, of bronze, or brass alloy. 1 inkwell and quill holder of terra cotta.

2 mercury timing glasses.

2 anchors, one about 12 feet on the stock shank(?), the other eight feet. 4 ship’s sounding leads.